Feb 7 2008
Huntsman Corporation has announced that its Aradur(R) 450 hardener has been selected for use in another of the world's most challenging coatings applications: to coat the concrete piers on the longest transoceanic bridge in the world.
To coat the bridge, which crosses Hangzhou Bay, lying between Shanghai and Ningbo, China, contractors required a sprayable material that could cure rapidly under salt water and provide long-term protection to the sub-sea structures for the 36km wide, six-lane structure. Designed for a service life of 100 years, the bridge was built to withstand exposure to strong multi-directional tidal currents moving at speeds of up to 30 km (18 miles) per hour, waves up to 8 meters (26 feet) in height, typhoons, and earthquakes measuring up to seven on the Richter scale.
When it opens to the public in June 2008, the ocean-crossing Hangzhou Bay Bridge will accommodate up to 50,000 vehicles each day, traveling at up to 100km/hour. The new roadway will cut travel time between Shanghai and Ningbo in half, from four hours to two.
Engineers who specified the pier coating materials selected Aradur(R) 450 hardener from Huntsman Advanced Materials for this demanding bridge project after testing a number of different products. The Aradur(R) hardener, combined with a Huntsman accelerator, satisfied the stringent reliability requirements for the concrete piers, which are installed in difficult sub-surface sea-bed soils. The Huntsman hardener has a fast dust dry speed to meet on-schedule project completion, yet still provides outstanding adhesion to wet concrete pier surfaces and cures under sea water.
"We are proud to be part of this outstanding engineering project," said Andre Genton, VP Global Operating Officer, Huntsman Advanced Materials, "and to be working in close partnership with the Hangzhou Bay Bridge Project Team. At Huntsman, we are known for our pioneering, innovative specialty materials, and working on the Hangzhou Bridge project has allowed us once more to show how our solutions-providing approach can meet even the toughest engineering and environmental challenges. We look forward to seeing the bridge in full operation later this year."